Easy Veggie Couscous

I've never made couscous before -- how about you?  While watching cooking shows on PBS last weekend, I saw someone making it, and thought "I have to try that!"  So, I purchased some, and have just been waiting for a day of inspiration.

Oh, okay, it was a last minute scramble.  Who am I kidding?

Anyways, um, it's my new favorite.

I checked out a bunch of different recipes, and then combined a few of them to make something I thought our family would enjoy.  Here's what I did:


Easy Veggie Couscous
1-1/4 cup water
1-1/4 tsp. instant chicken bouillion granules
1 cup couscous
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
3 green onions, chopped
1 plum tomato, diced
small handfull chopped cilantro
2-3 T. lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste

Bring chicken broth to a boil.  Add couscous.  Stir & remove from heat.  Let sit for 5 minutes until broth absorbs couscous, and is fluffy.  Add all other ingredients and mix well. Serve to your adoring fans.

I basically just added what I had in the refrigerator, but you could certainly add any spices, herbs, or veggies that your family enjoys  -- or use what you have on hand, like I did!  The water-to-couscous ratio is the important part.  The rest you can vary.

Super quick.  Super easy.  Try it, you'll like it!

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May 14th-21st, 2012

And in other news:
Remember the Christmas stars that my daughter and I made?  Well, after putting away most of our Christmas decorations, we still couldn't part with them.  They aren't exactly the kind of thing that stores well.  We knew we'd have to toss them eventually... but not yet.

TaaDaa!  And here they will stay -- at least until Valentines Day, we think.  The manger scene might just stay out that long this year too...

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is a week from today and I have not begun to plan, let alone shop. Truth be told, this year seems a little boring since last year, the entire family was on a Disney Cruise and at Disney World celebrating my parents' 50th Anniversary.  I mean, how can you beat that?

This weekend, I'll be part of the grocery store mob trying to get my act together.

What is Thanksgiving dinner like at your house?  Ours is familiar and predictable -- just the way we like it.  On the menu?  The same things that we served last year, and the year before -- just the way we like it.

"If it ain't broke,

don't fix it,"

they say.

Since my husband joined the family nineteen years ago, dinner rolls have often been added to the menu.  And since my brother-in-law joined the family eighteen years ago, we sometimes have a fabulous sweet-potato casserole.  But really... everything else is pretty much the same.  We've never thought about adding a new dessert -- because seriously, we look forward to our apple and pumpkin pies -- and who needs more dessert than that after all the other food that's served?

Our Standards?

Turkey

Stuffing (never in the bird)

Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Vegetable (usually corn)

Cranberry Jelly

Cinnamon Jello Salad

Apple Pie & Pumpkin Pie

What's that you say?  You've never heard of Cinnamon Jello Salad?  Oh. My. Goodness.  It is delectable, and one of our family favs.  So easy, too!

It's original name is Cinnamon Applesauce Salad, and you can find the recipe in Once-A-Month Cooking by Mimi Wilson & Mary Beth Lagerborg.

Cinnamon Applesauce Salad

Two 3 oz. packages lemon jello (I use sugar-free)

1/2 c. red hots (cinnamon candy imperials)

2 c. unsweetened applesauce

1 T. lemon juice

dash of salt

Dissolve gelatin and red hots in 3 cups boiling water, stirring until they dissolve.  (This will take some time, and constant stirring helps.)  Stir in applesauce, lemon juice, and salt.  Chill until set in a serving dish or gelatin mold of your choice.  Makes 9 servings.

Mind you... I'm not suggesting that you make anything NEW for Thanksgiving dinner. Heavens no.  But save this recipe for another time!  It's a sweet surprise!

Mary Anne's Yummy Salad

I confess that this was a recipe that I tried cautiously at first.  My friend Mary Anne brought a salad that she said we just HAD to try.  The original recipe calls for red onions, which I don't generally care for -- and I had never tried feta cheese.  Well, I tried the salad, and am so glad I did.  I loved it - cautiously eating around the red onions, and yet liking the flavor that the onions gave.  Mary Ann said you could also substitute green onions, which I prefer -- so that is how I have always made this Yummy Salad.

And now, without further adieu, the recipe:

Mary Anne's Yummy Salad

1 tomato, diced

1 cucumber, seeded and diced

1-2 garlic cloves, pressed

1 red onion (or 1 bunch green onions), chopped

1 block feta cheese (I use the "traditional" flavor), crumbled

salt/pepper to taste, if desired

Mix all ingredients and refrigerate.

The flavor gets better & better!

~~~~~~~~

My kids call it the "Stinky Salad," but they're just jealous because I love it more than them.  (Not true.)  What IS true is that I am the only one in my family that will eat this salad.  It just doesn't appeal to anyone else.  I've even made it for a gathering with extended family, and it really wasn't a hit.  You know what that means, don't you?  When I make it, it is MINE-ALL-MINE!  (You can see where my kids might get the idea that I love it more than them - ha!)

Typically I make it, and it serves as my lunch for several days -- assuming that I don't snack on it here and there.  (Don't judge.  It's mostly vegetables for crying out loud!)

Try it, you'll like it.

p.s.  By the way, there's NO sneaking it!  I mean, you can try.  Usually though - if it is in the refrigerator, the kids know as soon as I open the door!  Yep - it's that stinky........(chuckle) * I MEAN, YUMMY.*

ENJOY!

Recipe: Pizza Rice Salad

(and some giveaway info!)

I haven't shared a recipe in a while, so I thought I would share one that I stumbled across recently, and have been craving ever since.  It's super easy - but nobody in my household especially loves it, so I haven't made it in ages.  I decided to grab all the ingredients on my recent grocery run, and I made it for lunch today (tomorrow, and the next day -- unless somebody joins me!)  I confess to "sampling" it once I had all of the ingredients mixed together.  It was yum-o, but it'll be even yummier after I add that second 1/2 cup of dressing.  Oh my - is it lunch time yet?

  

Pizza Rice Salad - (original recipe from a Minute Rice ad in a magazine)
1.5 cups Original MINUTE Rice
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup sliced pepperoni, halved
1 large tomato, diced
2 cups sliced vegetables (green peppers, mushrooms, ripe olives, green onions)
1 cup Italian salad dressing

• Prepare rice as directed on the package; cool.
• Lightly toss rice with remaining ingredients in large bowl, using only 1/2 cup of the dressing.
• Chill.
• Just before serving, toss with remaining dressing.
• Makes 6 servings or so...

 

No Rules Blog Hop

And now for the giveaway info! 
This giveaway is now over.

                                                                                                                                                                            
Check this out.
(Love it!)
Do you know my friend Cha Cha?  She's got a giveaway going on at her blog "Sit Relax and Read" this week.  Cha Cha just got back from the Woodstock Outdoor Market, where she had a booth. You should see all of her special creations.  Her keychains (which she makes out of silverware) were her biggest seller.  Head on over to her blog, and read the post about her outdoor market experience and her giveaway.  Cha Cha wants to give away a fantabulous keychain to one lucky winner.



You can also head over to Cha Cha's Treasures (Etsy) to check out her Bible Memory Verse Pillows, adorable Rosette Brooches, and other goodies!

{The keychain winner will be announced Sunday on Cha Cha's blog.}